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Durable Goods Orders Rise Sharply
The Commerce Department announced this week that durable goods orders increased 5.7% in February, marking the largest jump in five months. The rise in durable goods orders is viewed by analysts as another positive step for the U.S. economy as it looks to recover from a sluggish 2012 fourth quarter. The newly-released Commerce Department data also supports a recent report from The Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The ISM’s latest index showed U.S. manufacturing activity grew in February at the fastest pace since June of 2011.

Most economists had predicted orders for durable goods – which are expected to last for at least three years – would rise only slightly in February, following a 3.8% decrease in orders in January. Despite the uneven start to durable goods orders in 2013, the averaged numbers still outpace those recorded near the close of last year by around 5%.

The only reason for pause from the latest data, economists suggest, is a drop in orders that signal company investment plans. A gauge of planned business spending fell unexpectedly after an uptick in January.

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Survey Reveals Biggest Business Tax Mistakes
Failing to keep up-to-date financial records and not preparing a budget for the upcoming year rank as the top tax-related mistakes small-business owners make, according to a new survey of accountants from firm Xero. Accountants also say small-business owners often don't understand their tax obligations and too frequently either lose out on deductions or seek deductions incorrectly. Part of the confusion, data shows, stems from changes in tax laws, including those recently passed by Congress.

"Nearly one in four accountants say government regulations and tax policy had the biggest impact on small businesses this year, and more than one in ten attribute this to uncertainty surrounding the fiscal cliff," Xero said.

Since the start of 2013, small-business owners have been especially anxious about the cost of health insurance as well as tax increases that affect them and their employees. "People were talking about it after they felt it," said Xero adviser Jody Padar. "They've been asking us what they can do to better address all these changes."

More than 72% of respondents said they "could provide better advice if given a real-time view into their client's finances," and nearly one-third would be willing to offer discounted fees to sit down to a reconciled ledger. To offer a better customer experience, 43% of those surveyed said they're planning to offer cloud-based services to clients this year, an 11% rise compared to 2012.

Through the survey, accountants also listed the most common mistakes that could trigger an audit of a company. They are: excessive deductions to income (43% listed); misidentifying employees versus contract workers (27%); improper home office deductions (11%).

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Counselor's How-To Minute: Trademark Your Company Name
In a video report, Counselor presents a business strategy video each week that focuses on how distributor firms can overcome a specific challenge, make a key decision or rise to the occasion on an opportunity in front of them. In this episode: How to register a trademark for your business.

Can the process be completed online or does it have to be done through the mail? How can you find out what names are already trademarked? Should you trademark your logo, too?

In a quick, minute-long video, Counselor Senior Editor Dave Vagnoni walks viewers through three simple steps they can take to quickly file for a company name trademark. Click here to watch.

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The Joe Show: Go Bananas
In this episode of The Joe Show, Managing Editor Joe Haley showcases a host of products that’ll appeal to clients in a variety of markets. Looking for a great eco-friendly item? Need some ideas for the travel industry? Have any local outdoor festivals coming up? Check out the video.

Silicon ValleyTown Bans Single-Use Plastic Bags
Redwood City, CA, has become the latest San Francisco-area community to adopt a single-use plastic bag ban, following a unanimous city council vote on Monday. The ban, which impacts the majority of the city's retailers, will go into effect on October 1, even though technically the law becomes official next month. "This is to provide an ample transition period for affected retailers, and to use up existing stock of the single-use carryout plastic bags," city leaders said, in a statement.

The law does allow exemptions for medicine, newspapers and to-go restaurant bags. The ordinance also lets shoppers buy paper bags for 10 cents each when checking out at registers. San Mateo County officials will be responsible for enforcing the ban.

A recent environmental impact report found that about 42 million single-use plastic bags are used annually in Redwood City, which sits between San Jose and San Francisco in California's Silicon Valley. The impact report showed that if Redwood City implemented a ban, it could cut usage of single-use plastic bags by 95%.

"Use of reusable bags reduces litter and conserves natural resources," a city statement read. "A reusable bag has the potential to replace over 600 single-use plastic bags over its lifetime, significantly reducing plastic bag litter, and reducing the one-time use of paper bags."

Chat Wrap: Prepare For Emergencies
How would a major disruption like a flood, burglary or cyber-attack impact your business? How can you assess risks and develop a business continuity plan? What types of insurance policies offer you the best protection? Providing answers to these questions and more, Counselor held a live online chat this month focused on helping you prepare for a business emergency.

A transcript of the chat, complete with distributor questions and expert responses, is archived now on our website. Visit www.asicentral.com/counselorchat to view the archive of the chat, or to see any chat archive from the past year. It’s full of business advice and strategies. Check it out now at www.asicentral.com/counselorchat.

ASI Radio: Success With Kids’ Promos
On Tuesday’s ASI Internet Radio Show, the hosts gave callers advice on how to create fun and practical promotions for kids. Are electronic items a sure bet to win children over? What kinds of apparel should you pitch? Can watching cartoons really give you a read on advertising trends?

Click here to listen to the call-in segment from this week’s show. And, don’t forget to join us on Tuesday, April 2, for our next broadcast. Log on to www.asicentral.com/radio at 10:30 a.m. ET to check it out.

Take The State Of The Industry SurveyCounselor is currently polling professionals in the industry – both distributors and suppliers – to find out how the market did in 2012 and to get impressions on where the industry is headed in 2013. We need your input. Please take some time to click the appropriate link below and complete the annual State of the Industry survey. Your responses will remain anonymous and you’ll be helping to create Counselor’s annual State of the Industry report.

Distributorsclick hereto take the distributor State of the Industry survey.

2013 Best Places To Work Nominations Are Open
For the sixth year in a row, Counselor is setting out to identify the industry companies that employees simply love to work for. These are the distributors and suppliers that have a loyal work force and that provide a work environment which employees want to go to every morning.

Counselor will be unveiling its annual Best Places To Work list later this year at the inaugural Best Places to Work Conference in November – it will undoubtedly include an elite list of industry companies. Do you want your company to be considered? Getting involved is easy – and it’s completely free to participate. The only necessary qualification is that a company has at least 10 employees.

To nominate your company, or any others in the market that you think deserve to be recognized, simplyclick here. Also, there’s no risk to participating. Only the honorees – those companies with the best scores from the survey – will be published in Counselor.

So, don’t delay. Click hereto register your company to be considered for one of the most exclusive lists in the ad specialty market: Counselor’s Best Places To Work.

In The News
Baltimore Glassware Decorators (asi/38209) announced that it has gone completely green as of 2013. The initiative began in 2010 and included a renovation of its production facility and the re-tooling of some printing presses to adapt to new ink technologies. For more information, visit www.bgdecorators.com.

Camsing Global (asi/43668) announced the expansion of its Drinx line of promotional drinkware into the custom label bottled spring water category. For more information, visit www.drinxline.com.

Discount Labels (asi/49890) announced that it has partnered with Athlon Sports to offer the 2013 Bracket Breakdown online game. The interactive game gives distributors the chance to submit bracket predictions and win sports-related prizes. All users who register for the game will receive a promo code for 10% off all online orders. Click here to play.

Prime Line (asi/79530) announced that it is hosting a webinar today, March 28, at 2 p.m. ET. The event will be focused on fresh ideas for spring sales. To register and view the webinar, click here.

Pro Towels (asi/79750) announced the expansion of its contract decorating division, Superior Decorating (asi/90240), to the East Coast. Superior Decorating will now be fully operational in both Camarillo, CA, and Abbeville, SC.

The Image Group (asi/230069) announced that it has expanded into a new office in Cleveland. The company will hold an open house this summer to celebrate the new facility, which is located in Independence, OH.

Tri-Mountain (asi/92125) announced the launch of a new catalog that showcases its 2013 Spring and Peak Performers collections. For more information, visit www.trimountain.com.

U.S. Flash & Technologies (asi/93131) announced the launch of a new 24-hour turnaround program on many of its flash drive products. For more information on the new service, go to www.usflash.net.

US Manufacturing Group (asi/92433) announced that it has moved into a new facility that consists of more than 100,000 square feet of production and administrative space, allowing the company to increase production capabilities.

People On The Move
CounterPoint (asi/46767) announced that it has hired Kate Kelley as its new brand manager.

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It's time to register for ASI New York, taking place May 8-9 in the North Pavilion at the Javits Center. This year's show promises to be better than ever. The new two-day, action-packed schedule will leave you armed with new strategies and sales-building ideas to grow your client base and energize your creativity.

Register today for ASI New York at www.asishow.com. All ASI distributor/decorator members can attend at no cost and receive a hotel room for the evening of May 8 for free. Call 877-ASI-SHOW with any questions.

THE ADVANTAGES ROADSHOW CONTINUES ITS TOUR IN THE MIDWEST

The Advantages Roadshow, the industry's most popular traveling show, is visiting the Midwest and distributors are invited to attend for free. Delivering top suppliers and hot, money-making products, the Roadshow is the most cost-effective and time-efficient way to find answers to your clients' toughest challenges.

Come on over. All distributors are invited to attend the Advantages Roadshow for free. The morning schedule features distributor education from 7:45 a.m.-9 a.m. and 1 p.m.-2 p.m. and tabletop exhibits from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.